CAIRO – A Libyan security official says a suicide car bomber has targeted a checkpoint manned by troops loyal to a rogue Libyan general outside the eastern city of Benghazi, wounding three people.

The official says the bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle on Wednesday night, killing himself and wounding three of Gen. Khalifa Hifter's fighters.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Hifter is leading an offensive against Islamic militias and Islamists dominating Libya's political scene. His troops, along with their allies, have bombed militia camps in and around Benghazi in recent weeks.

The fighting has escalated the crisis in Libya, which has been embroiled in turmoil since the 2011 civil war and the downfall of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.